As we engage with customers and potential customers on process improvement, a choice may eventually be made to introduce new software. Specific software that supports the improved process. You can think of Product Data Management software (PDM), Configure Price Quote software (CPQ), but also BIM software.You name it.
Often seems "apples-to-apples", because all the customer asks for is a simple release process, or they just need a managed parts list for ERP, with a model driven by a few lines...and then a parts list comes into ERP or a Word quote somewhere in a folder. That's not that difficult, is it?
But this kind of software, or the process it is supposed to support, can be quite complex. That is sometimes underestimated. Fuelled by the clever marketing and feature lists of the vendors of that software.
Best practice
Our client, who has now become totally enthusiastic, does not take this kind of step every day. It often lacks necessary information, knowledge and experience to make the right choices for implementing these new systems. In fact, our customers have a lot of knowledge in other areas: their own products. In fact, they are very good at that.
Using a best practice approach, we bring together customer knowledge and Cadac Group's experience in (engineering) automation and digitalisation. And that's what you (our customer) ultimately benefit from.
"But then we just google it, surely you can find a lot on the internet about starting up with PDM? Surely there is a lot of information in knowledge bases or forums". There is indeed "a lot" on the internet. But find out what is real or "fake". Or whether it actually worked. So it is going to take a lot of time, sweat and money to figure everything out yourself and find out what works and what does not. A waste of your precious capacity. Right?
We want to and can help companies realise a more complex project based on the right expectations and limited risk. We have been doing this successfully for years. Because we take a Best Practice-based approach as our starting point. In these Best Practices, Cadac has combined years of experience. Experience with engineering information processes, generally accepted working methods, standards and "lessons learned". We have bundled this into an implementation method, pieces of innovative automation and maintained functionality. We then take this as the starting point for, for example, a PDM trajectory, Design Automation/Configurator trajectory or CPQ trajectory at our customers.
Succesfull PDM implementation
A best practice is not a straitjacket. It offers our customers a sure path to a successful PDM implementation. Always with an eye for company-specific requirements.
The Best Practice can be compared to an organised Lego box: The individual bricks are the predefined standard parts and together, on the basis of the Best Practice method ("the instruction manual"), we will find the right Lego bricks together and build them into a sound structure.
In this way, it is simply quite possible to get a good "fit" with most customers' processes. Without complex and expensive customisation.
In fact, this makes us talk about a customised standard solution. Mass Customisation. And there is nothing wrong with that. Whether you put together a BMW or a VW or a Citroën, those too are customised standards and we all find that very normal.
Customised project
We have also implemented that vision about Best Practice on our standard AUTOCAD and Vault basic installations. And of course also for our more complex solutions such as Design Automation/PCF/Ilogic, Epicor CPQ and previously mentioned PDM.
It works really well. Clarity for our customers what to expect, clarity for the consultant who will carry out the project. And clarity regarding your budget in money, duration and time commitment.
From the projects we conclude and evaluate, we take experience to further improve all our Best Practices. Or to add new elements. So that all participants benefit and improve.
The Best Practice consist of modules. Of course, there is a minimum number of activities required. But parts that are not directly, or not applicable at all to certain companies, can simply be omitted. As long as the whole remains consistent. That way we keep it "lean and mean" for you - and you know what you are getting.
More information
Want to know more already or exchange thoughts on how this could work for your company?
